Cebu City: barangay health centers to get medical equipment

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is eyeing to purchase medical equipment amounting to P2.28 million for the 80 barangay health centers in the city.

Each barangay will get two units of stethoscope, two units of nebulizers, two units of blood glucose monitoring, one digital blood pressure apparatus, and one manual blood pressure apparatus.

"In order for our barangay health workers to be efficient and effective in the frontline of providing primary health care, it is imperative to provide the 80 barangay health centers of Cebu City with various medical equipment," read the proposed resolution of City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, Jr.

In the recent regular session of the council, Gabuya referred his resolution to the council's committee on budget and finance for its comments and recommendations.

He said Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already approved his proposal.

Osmeña has also approved the amount, which shall be charged against the city's Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds, Gabuya added.

"Among the qualified projects for the disposition of the city's monthly PAGCOR assistance are projects connected with the delivery of basic health services, including the improvement of facilities and the acquisition of needed equipment for the hospital, clinics and health centers of the city," Gabuya said.

Barangay health owners do more than just provide primary health care, according to Gabuya.

"In Cebu City, aside from providing primary health care, the barangay health workers are also the ones directly working on the grassroots level for barangay profiling and dealing with the family," he said.

The City Treasurer's Office has already issued a certificate of availability of funds to cover the purchase of the medical equipment.

A stethoscope costs P600, nebulizer P3,500, blood glucose monitoring P3,500, digital blood pressure apparatus P2,900, and a manual blood pressure apparatus P10,500.  Before Gabuya presented the resolution to the council, he sent a request to the mayor on his proposal.

In an August 17 letter, he told Osmeña that there is a need to check and track the blood pressure or blood sugar and body temperature of the residents.

"Furthermore, the appropriation for blood glucose strips shall be included in the annual budget of Cebu City Health Department," the councilor said, to which the mayor approved by signing his request. (FREEMAN)